NFL Roundtable: Tom Brady is closing in on his 4th NFL MVP Award

Each week we sit down with TwinSpires columnists Ashley Anderson, James Scully, and Scott Shapiro to discuss the latest news from around the NFL. Today they weigh in on Ben Roethlisberger's greatest hits, the Lions' surprisingly bright future, and Tom Brady's MVP campaign.

Ben Roethlisberger is reportedly set to retire at the end of the season. What’s your favorite memory of Big Ben?

Ashley: Is there a more memorable pass than his game-winning touchdown to Santonio Holmes in Super Bowl XLIII? After winning his first title at age 23, with the lowest passer rating (22.6) by a Super Bowl-winning quarterback, Roethlisberger proved his mettle in his second championship game in 2009, as he connected with Holmes for a game-winning touchdown to lift the Steelers, 27-23, with 35 seconds left in regulation. Although Holmes ultimately won Super Bowl MVP over Big Ben, the Steelers’ franchise quarterback will forever be remembered for his unthinkable pass that soared over three defenders into Holmes’ hands in the back corner of the end zone.

James: The Super Bowl XLIII-winning drive against Arizona, capped by Santonio Holmes' leaping touchdown grab, is the most memorable. After Arizona erased a 13-point deficit in the fourth quarter, scoring 16 straight to take the lead, everything seemed against Roethlisberger and his teammates. Big Ben proved clutch in the final minutes, however, leading an eight-play, 78-yard touchdown drive, and it was a great finish to a great game.

Scott: Obviously, Roethlisberger’s touchdown pass to Santonio Holmes in Super Bowl XLIII is an incredible moment in his career, but my favorite memory is Big Ben throwing six touchdown passes in back-to-back games in 2014. The first of the two six-TD performances came against the Colts in Week 8, and was followed up the next week on Sunday Night Football versus division rival Baltimore. As an avid fantasy football player over the last three decades, this is one impressive feat from the Future Hall of Famer. 

The Lions finally won their first game in Week 13, while the Texans became the first team to be eliminated from playoff contention. Which star-crossed franchise has the brighter future?

Ashley: New Lions GM Brad Holmes made a promising offseason deal when his trade for Jared Goff set the franchise up with an additional first-round and third-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, along with a first-rounder in 2023. The Texans, on the other hand, hired 66-year-old first-time NFL head coach David Culley in a role he likely will hold for one season, and failed to resolve their Deshaun Watson dilemma. At the moment, the Lions appear more suited for a successful rebuild in the near future, but it’s difficult to side with a franchise that has spent most of the last century in obscurity. Nonetheless, the overhaul by Detroit’s front office gives me hope the team might turn the tide over the next decade, while Houston has a lot of catching up to do in the offseason.

James: Detroit. Houston’s roster was left in terrible shape by former coach/GM Bill O’Brien, who also traded away valuable draft picks, and until there’s a resolution to Deshaun Watson’s status, Houston is caught in limbo. Injuries derailed any hope for Detroit this season, and the Lions must find a viable quarterback, but the Lions are better situated for the future from a personnel standpoint.

Scott: The Lions have a brighter future in large part due to the mess that exists in Houston. Detroit has been terrible in 2021, but a lot of that is circumstantial. They have had a ton of injuries in key positions and were in rebuilding mode anyhow. The Texans, on the other hand, have no direction and very little young talent to build around. I like what I have seen from first-year head coach Dan Campbell. Expect Detroit to get better in 2022. 

Tom Brady had another solid showing on Sunday, throwing for 368 yards and four touchdowns against the Falcons. Can anyone catch the seven-time Super Bowl champ in the NFL MVP race?

Ashley: Hopefully not, because I backed him to win MVP back in Week 2! With five weeks remaining in the regular season, and no runaway winner, the award should go to the 44-year-old, who currently ranks first in the NFL in passing yards and touchdown passes. However, three of Brady’s final five games are against the top two pass defenses (Buffalo and Carolina), who are capable of frustrating Brady and adding to his turnover total for the season. Josh Allen is still holding onto a shot at the award, but will need big games against New England (twice), Tampa Bay, and Carolina to boost his chances, while Kyler Murray could regain momentum in the MVP race, despite missing three games due to injury. Still, Brady is the choice to collect his fourth NFL MVP title, considering no quarterback has ever generated this type of statistical success well into his 40s.

James: Yes, Kyler Murray is still in the mix. After leading Arizona to a 7-1 start, Murray was perhaps a little forgotten missing the next three games to injury. He returned with a sharp performance against Chicago on Sunday, rushing for a pair of touchdowns and throwing for two more as he completed 11 of 15 passes, and Murray has big games remaining against Dallas, Indianapolis, and the Rams. Don’t count him out.

Scott: With Tampa’s success through 12 games and no one else really putting forth an MVP-type season thus far, it will be very difficult to catch Brady. If the Buccaneers and the seven-time Super Bowl champ put forth impressive efforts against the Bills next Sunday and on primetime against the Saints in Week 15, it is likely going to be all over but the shouting.